KAWS, Urge IX (Dark Green), 2020

KAWS, Urge IX (Dark Green), 2020
Screenprint
17 x 12 in
43.2 x 30.5 cm
Edition of 250 plus 50 AP

In Urge IX (Dark Green) (2020), KAWS brings vibrancy and emotional complexity to his celebrated Urge series through a bold interplay of color and form. The composition features a dark green Companion figure, its familiar X-marked eyes suggesting a state of quiet introspection or surrender. Surrounding it are four cartoonish gloves — rendered in red, cream, light blue, and deep magenta — each reaching inward, overlapping in a choreography of contact that blurs the line between affection and pressure.

This work exemplifies KAWS’s unique ability to transform the visual language of pop culture into an exploration of psychological depth. The lush green backdrop conveys a sense of groundedness and renewal, while the striking contrast of hand colors injects the scene with emotional dynamism. The figure’s stillness amid the swirl of motion evokes both intimacy and claustrophobia — a reflection on how connection can soothe and overwhelm in equal measure.

Executed with his signature crosshatched detailing and precise outlines, Urge IX (Dark Green) demonstrates KAWS’s ongoing mastery of composition and tone. The tactile textures and overlapping gestures lend the piece a sense of animation and immediacy, while the deliberate restraint in expression invites introspection.

Through this print, KAWS continues his meditation on vulnerability and empathy within the human experience. Urge IX (Dark Green) transcends its cartoon origins to become a universal allegory of touch, emotion, and the delicate balance between being held and being consumed by one’s surroundings.